Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
This optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was established to commemorate her apparition to Saint Simon Stock on 16 July 1251. The Book of Kings recounts that on Mount Carmel the Prophet Elijah gathered a group of men to defend the purity of the Hebrew faith and won a challenge against the priests of the pagan god Baal. Inspired by this experience, a group of monks, following the Rule of Saint Basil, was established to imitate the prophet Elijah. There are traces going back to the 11th century with the arrival of the crusaders. Around 1154, the French nobleman Berthold retreated to this mountain when he arrived in Palestine with his cousin Aimery de Limoges, Patriarch of Antioch. He decided to gather the hermits to live a cenobitic life. These men religious built a small church that stood in the middle of their cells, dedicating it to the Blessed Virgin. They themselves took the name Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. The Carmelites would gradually acquire their two defining elements: a reference to Elijah and a strong connection with Mary Most Holy. In addition, according to tradition, it was there that the Holy Family stopped on their return from Egypt.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt. 12:46-50)
Bonds of love, not of blood
On the day on which we celebrate the optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the liturgy presents this passage from the Gospel according to Matthew concerning the degree of familial relationship with Jesus. This degree that is not based on blood, but on imitation: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother”. Those who belong to “his family” become a member not through bonds of blood, or by practicing a common religion, but by a free and individual choice that is translated into the commitment to do the Father’s will.
Mary, the first disciple
To confirm what has just been said, Jesus himself responded to a woman who exalted Jesus’s Mother: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Lk. 11:27-28). Mary is the one who knows how to listen, how to keep things in her heart, how to direct everyone to her Son – “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Mary is the one who never abandoned her Son Jesus, not even along the way of the Cross. She “stood” under the Cross. She is a disciple who never abandons the Lord Jesus, but who always “follows him.
Mary, model for Christians (and Carmelites)
All of this leads to imitate the Virgin Mary. Just as the monks have been doing and still do on Mount Carmel, every Christian is called to look to Mary to learn from her, to entrust themselves to her intercession to guard “the purity of faith” against the idols of today’s ‘Baals’.
The Scapular that frees from the pains of purgatory
Saint Simon Stock propagated the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and composed a beautiful hymn to her called the Flos Carmeli. Our Lady assured Saint Simon Stock those who died wearing the scapular would be freed from the pains of purgatory.
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Childbearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Who no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
Strong stem of Jesse,
Who bore one bright flower,
Be ever near us
And guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.
Purest of lilies,
That flowers among thorns,
Bring help to the true heart
That in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.
Strongest of armour,
We trust in thy might:
Under thy mantle,
Hard press’d in the fight,
we call to thee.
Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
You give to those
who turn to thee.
O gentle Mother
Who in Carmel reigns,
Share with your servants
That gladness you gained
and now enjoy.
Hail, Gate of Heaven,
With glory now crowned,
Bring us to safety
Where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.
Amen. (Alleluia.)
